Neal Curtis-Duguay Contributing Writer

Stereotypes exist, no matter what someone says or believes. Minorities in particular are more affected by them and lesbians are no exception to this. People insist on labeling them, further dividing up an already discriminated minority with misconceptions and stereotypes. The two primary offenders are “butch” and “lipstick” lesbians, or as some others like to put it, “Helga” and “hot” lesbians.

Pierce is no exception, as one can stumble upon random groups with this misconception. When asked if there was a heterosexual equivalent of “butch” or “lipstick,” few students could provide anything beyond “straight.”

The cause for this stereotype is humanity’s tendencies to think in extremes, or a “black and white” worldview. Lesbians, being outside the “norm” of the mainstream sexual identity, are given a masculine and feminine labels. This method of labeling is ridiculous and insulting.

Lesbians are people, plain and simple. Labelling them is belittling and ignorant. It’s one thing to compare “butch” and “femme,” which are terms for gender identities in the LGBT community, but the terms “lipstick” and “butch” have implications of appearance rather than identity.

The usage and implementation of these stereotypes have the unfortunate implication that all relationships must have a male/female dynamic. Lesbians don’t have to be “girly” or “manly” in any way whatsoever; there’s no point in enforcing these stereotypes. It’s just as offensive as walking up to a gay couple and asking “which one is the girl?”

Stereotypes are harmful, and only cause more misconceptions and myths. There are masculine and feminine lesbians, but there are also lesbians in between. There are couples involving two masculine partners and couples made up of two feminine partners. The key to ending these stereotypes is learning more about the actual people beneath the stereotype. Keep an open mind and leave out assumptions for questions and truth.

Assuming all people fall under labels and the gender binary is simply flawed. It’s like calling a transgender person by the pronoun “it.” Belittling and dehumanizing the LGBT community is bullying, plain and simple. As George Takei once said to a bully, “You are a douchebag. That’s right, a douchebag. A total douchebag.”

Instead of being a douchebag, try to promote understanding and acceptance. How a person looks or acts doesn’t define who they are.